Royal Scandals: With This Much Attention, Missteps Are Unavoidable

Prince Harry, Prince William and more have received negative attention

By Francesca Bacardi Dec 07, 2016 12:00 PMTags
Royals Week, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Princess Diana, Prince CharlesGetty Images

If you've been watching or watched Netflix's The Crown, then you know the royal family is very protective of its reputation and all that—wait for it—the crown represents.

But the fascination surrounding the royal family has yet to decrease; in fact, interest has only increased in recent years thanks to the Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding, as well as the births of their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. With all eyes on the royal family, it would be impossible not to get into some trouble, which is why royal scandals have become completely unavoidable.

Perhaps the only part of a scandal that they can try to control, however, is the severity.

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Royal Scandals: The British and Beyond
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Prince Harry has been no stranger to royal controversy over the years. He made headlines once again recently after defending girlfriend Meghan Markle in an official statement via the palace. Prior to that, the redheaded royal seemed to turn it all around after having a tumultuous time growing up in the spotlight.

In 2005 Prince Harry was famously photographed leaving a Halloween party where he was dressed as a Nazi. Afterwards he released a statement calling the costume a "poor choice," but that didn't stop the controversy from spreading like wildfire.

Years later in 2012, Prince Harry enjoyed a crazy weekend in Las Vegas, but ended up taking it a little too far when he was photographed naked during a game of strip billiards. Let's just say what happens in Vegas didn't stay in Vegas.

Coleman-Rayner

Of course, Prince Harry isn't the only royal to become embroiled in negative headlines. Before Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge tied the knot, they called it quits for a short period of time. The worldwide reaction, however, couldn't have made the split any easier on either of them. Cruelly dubbed "Waity Katie," Kate later admitted she was devastated by the split, but didn't want to show it, so she maintained an incredibly busy social calendar.

One year after Wills and Kate tied the knot, Kate found herself at the center of a photo scandal when publications released topless photos of her. The images of the couple were taken while they were on a balcony of their private residency while on vacation, and they immediately took legal action.

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The palace released a statement that called the media's actions "reminiscent of the worst excesses" of the paparazzi in Princess Diana's life.

While Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate have found themselves at the center of royal scandals in recent years, the rest of the family has had its fair share of headlines, too.

Prince Charles and Princess Di's rocky marriage was filled with controversy as a result of both their extramarital affairs. They ultimately divorced, another no-no in the eyes of the royal family. The controversy grew larger after they divorced and a phone conversation between Prince Charles and now-wife Camilla leaked. Known as tampon-gate, the scandal revealed Charles' and Camilla's dirty sides. 

"Oh god. I'll just live inside your trousers or something. It would be much easier!" Charles joked on the phone call.

"What are you going to turn into, a pair of knickers?" said Camilla. "Oh, you're going to come back as a pair of knickers."

"Or, God forbid, a Tampax," Charles responded. "Just my luck!"

With all eyes—and ears—on the royals, it's no wonder they can't get away with anything. For even more royal scandals, click through the gallery above.